c 



25th Congress, 
2d Session. 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] Ho. of Rei „ 



WESTERN FRONTIER. 



CORRESPONDENCE 

O IT THE 

Subject of the protection of the Western Frontier, presented to the House 
of Representatives by Mr. Harrison, of Missouri. 



February 14, 1838. 

Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. 



Department of War, 

January 8, 1838. 

Sir : At the request of the honorable A. G. Harrison, of the House of 
Representatives, 1 have the honor to transmit the accompanying papers, 
for the consideration of the Committee on Military Affairs, which have 
reference to the subject of the defence of the western frontier, reported 
upon by me a few days since, in answer to a resolution of the House of 
Representatives. 

Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 

J.R.POINSETT. 

Hon. James J. McKay, 

Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, 

House of Representatives. 



Fulton, Missouri, June 3, 1837. 

Sir : The great number of Indians, native and emigrant, on the fron- 
tier of Missouri, Arkansas, &c, has for a long time engaged our serious 
attention, and filled our minds with painful solicitude for the future and 
permanent safety of those most exposed to their incursions. It is the 
paramount duty of all Governments to afford to its citizens not only that 
protection which is fully adequate to secure them from danger, but such, 
also, as is sufficient to allay every apprehension of it. We do not believe 
that our Government has extended either to our exposed frontier. 
When we think of their immense number, which, it is officially said, 
will amount to 253,000, when all shall have been removed, and look 
upon our vast extent of frontier, we affirm it unhesitatingly as our de- 
Thomas Allen, print. 



2 [ Doc. No. 276. ] 

liberate opinion, that the troops stationed upon it for its protection are 
altogether inadequate for such a purpose. With these opinions, being 
in part the representatives of a portion of those exposed to the dangers 
we have alluded to, we should be faithless to our trust, wanting in every 
impulse of patriotism and humanity, if we did not use the very utmost 
of our exertions, in every practicable manner whatever, to accomplish 
objects of such vital importance. It is these considerations that have 
impelled us to trouble you with this communication. We desire your 
views of the protection that is necessary, and respectfully request that 
you will give them to us at length. No man, we are well satisfied, is 
better qualified to give a correct opinion on this subject than yourself. 
Your long acquaintance with the character of the Indians of the West ; 
their cunning, their boldness, their treachery ; your intimate knowledge, 
from personal experience, of their mode of warfare, and your late posi- 
tion as the commander of the first regiment of dragoons, connected with 
the additional circumstances of your being stationed on the frontier, 
and, whilst in that quarter, of having penetrated and scoured much the 
greater portion of the country lying between it and the Rocky Moun- 
tains, have afforded you opportunities enjoyed by no other person in the 
country for forming correct opinions on the subject. You cannot but 
perceive, should the information we receive justify it, that it is our in- 
tention to make an effort at the next session of Congress to have that 
protection extended to us which will not only make us secure, but will 
also quiet every feeling of solicitude in relation to it. 

We are the more anxious to get your views on the subject, and the 
views also of other gentlemen whose situation and experience have en- 
abled them to form just and correct opinions as to the amount of force 
that is necessary, because, in the discussions which we have heard on the 
floor of Congress upon this subject, opinions have been advanced very 
wide from those we entertain ourselves, directly impeaching the exist- 
ence of any necessity for further protection, without which, we firmly 
believe, our frontier citizens are doomed to be, at some future day, the 
helpless victims of savage ferocity. On such occasions, too, we have 
heard the all-sufficient argument of economy used, as if that should be 
esteemed true economy, where the great probability is that the timely 
expenditure of a few thousand dollars will prevent the future necessity 
of appropriating millions ; but it is such economy, we very much fear, as 
will eventually end in opening the sluices of blood, and marking the 
fair fields of our people with the blackness of death and desolation. 
Such are the views and feelings with which we are impressed ; and, be- 
ing such, we are irresistibly impelled to do all in our power to avert such 
an impending calamity. We therefore again renew the request that 
you will furnish us with your views on the subject in as full a manner as 
your time and convenience will admit of. 

With assurances of the highest regard, we are, very respectfully, your 
obedient servants, 

L. F. LINN, 

A. G. HARRISON. 

Col. Henry Dodge, 

Governor of Wisconsin Territory. 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



St. Louis, August 14, 1837. 

Sir: We have taken the liberty of addressing you, for the purpose of 
acquiring such information as you may be able to give relative to the 
force that is necessary for the complete protection of our frontier. You 
know that this frontier is very extensive, and we think not sufficiently 
protected. To prevent ruinous border wars, and to ensure peace and 
safety to our fellow-citizens living in that quarter, is the great object we 
have in view. We hope, by the information we are endeavoring to col- 
lect on the subject, to satisfy the General Government that the protec- 
tion which is indispensably necessary to the peace of the frontier is but 
begun. We have been induced to address you, from your thorough 
knowledge of the condition of the frontier, and the Indian and his char- 
acter. We should be happy, therefore, to be favored with your views 
on this subject at length. 

We have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servants, 

L. F. LINN, 
A. G. HARRISON. 

Gen. Henry Atkinson. 



Camp Sabine, Louisiana, 

August 28, 1837. 

My dear friend : When we last met in St. Louis I promised to write 
to you, and should have done so sooner but for the army life, that of be- 
ing moved about so much. 1 have been moved from Jefferson barracks 
to Natchitoches, in this State, from thence to Fort Jesup, from Foit 
Jesup to this place, and from this place back to Jesup, and from thence 
to the Caddo Indians, and from thence to New Orleans, and from thence 
back to this place, where we have remained until this time, but how 
much longer I am unable to say. I should as lief be here as in any other 
place in this country ; but I would rather be in Missouri than any other 
State in the Union that 1 have been in, not excepting old Virginia, the 
place of my birth. I like the people better ; the climate is better; in fact, 
everything is better, in my opinion ; at least, they appear more congenial 
to my feelings. This country appears easier to get a living in than any 
other that I have ever been in, and the people are less inclined to work 
than any other set I have met with. We have been here nearly two 
years, and for what purpose I am unable to say, for there has been no 
invasion, or threatened invasion, that I know of. There are no Indians 
nearer than eighty or one hundred miles of us, and we are fifty or sixty 
miles from those large planters who have so large a number of negroes 
that it would require a garrison near to prevent their negroes from rising. 
So you will see that we are too far from the former to protect the frontier 
inhabitants, as also to protect the master from the violence of his slaves, 
if they see cause to be discontented. We have temporary quarters built 
at this place, which is about two miles and a half from the river Sabine, 
on a straight line, and about four by the road. 

It is my opinion that we could be of more use to the service if we were 
on the frontier of Missouri or Arkansas. There we should be a check on 



4 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



the Indians; for if we do not establish a line of posts around that frontier 
soon, the enormous body of Indians which the Government are sending 
amongst you will become dissatisfied, and will rise and use you up before 
we can help you. You know it is the nature of an Indian to take all 
advantages ; and when he thinks that you are not watching him, that is 
the time that he will make his spring. Hence, the sooner it is done 
the less it will cost the Government, and the less blood will be spilt. 
But if you build those posts, you will have to increase the army in order 
to garrison them. There should be at least fifteen thousand men on a 
peace establishment in the army of the United States. My plan would 
be to have eight regiments of infantry, four of artillery, two of dragoons, 
and one of riflemen, each regiment to be one thousand strong; and to 
have the different staff corps to be increased, so as to be adequate to all 
the services required of them, without taking officers from the line for 
staff purposes. What I mean by staff corps is, the engineers, topographi- 
cal engineers, and ordnance corps. The details for those duties are so 
threat at this time that we have not got officers sufficient to do company 
duty ; and at one time this summer the sixth regiment had but ten officers 
with it for duty ; out of thirty-three belonging to it, there was not at that 
time one captain with his company in the whole regiment, and that in 
the field, i knew a time it would have been considered disgraceful to be 
absent from your regiment or company, when they were in the field. 
But times have changed ; for now some of them bother the lives out of 
some of the members of Congress to get them a furlough, or to get them 
on some other duty, and at the time, perhaps, their companies are in 
front of an enemy. The War Department should put a stop to it, or else 
it will ruin the army. There are a great number of officers on Indian duty, 
which, I think, should be done by citizens ; for if it is necessary to have a 
captain, a first and a second lieutenant, to a company, is it not equally neces- 
sary that they should be with it ? I think so. Then, why not employ citi- 
zens ; for it would be better for the army, better for the citizens, and bet- 
ter for the service in general. To return to the increase of the army ; it 
is my opinion that a riile regiment should be added to the peace estab- 
lishment ; as two wars have shown us that riflemen are the most efficient 
troops that ever were employed in our country. Where can you find 
troops more efficient than Morgan's riflemen of the Revolution, or For- 
syth's riflemen of the last war with Great Britain ? However, I contend 
that they are the most useful in our country. Artillery for a siege ; in- 
fantry for an open country, where they can meet column to column ; dra- 
goons for scouring parties, provided they have a rallying point near at 
hand ; but riflemen for the woods or broken ground, with which you know 
our country abounds at every point where fighting must be expected, 
i he musket and cartridge-box are too clumsy to run through the woods 
with. 1 served in Forsyth's riflemen during the whole of the late war, 
up to the reduction of the army in 1821, and have been in the infantry 
since, and have had a good opportunity of judging of these two arms of the 
service, and am decidedly of opinion that the rifle is the best one the 
service can have. 

If, sir, this meets your approbation I hope you will consider me a can- 
didate for the riflemen, and give me your assistance to obtain it ; or, if 
the army is increased, I also wish your influence for promotion. I have 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



5 



served my country honestly and faithfully for near twenty-five years, and 
have commanded detachments, companies, battalions, regiments, and 
brigades, and have been on some important expeditions, and have had the 
good fortune to have the approbation of my commanding officer and the 
Government. I have written to Governor Miller and to Colonel R. M. 
Johnson, Vice President of the United States, on the subject of brevet 
rank. At the close of the last war, Mr. Dallas, then Secretary at War, 
promised me the brevet rank of major ; but, unfortunately, he died, or I 
am convinced I should have received it. I made repeated applications 
alter the war for leave to visit Washington, but without effect until the fall 
of 1S20, which was the first opportunity I had of laying my claims before 
the President and Secretary at War, which I did, but was told I was too 
late by Mr. Monroe and Mr. Calhoun ; but they both, if I understood 
them, agreed that my claims were just. Again, in 1826, I had my claims 
before Mr. Adams and Mr. Barbour, and had no better success. I claimed 
brevets for the following actions : The battle of La Cole's mill; General 
Wilkinson told me, for my gallant conduct, that he would remember me. 
In the summer of 1814, on the day the gallant Forsyth fell, 1, with fifteen 
riflemen, led the enemy's force, of about seven or eight hundred strong, 
into an ambuscade, in such a manner that, if Forsyth had obeyed his 
orders, not a man of them would have escaped to have told the story ; 
for which General T. A. Smith sent for me, and offered me brevet rank, 
which I declined. A few weeks after I dispersed a party of the enemy 
of more than my number, killed their advanced guard, and wounded and 
took prisoner their chief, an Indian chief by the name of Malaun. He 
was a celebrated chief; and-to show you how much the British thought 
of him, they asked his body of General Smith, and had it buried in 
splendid style; for this General Smith sent for me again, and offered me 
brevet rank again ; which I again declined. Well, sir, for the battle of 
Plattsburg I respectfully refer you to Major General Macomb, and also to 
a letter of his that is on file at the War Department at Washington; it was 
written to me, and placed on file by me in 1826. For these few battles I 
was promised the brevet rank. Since then, in 1823, at the battle of the 
Arickarees, General Leavenworth recommended me to be breveted to a 
major. (See his report, on file at the War Department.) Again, on the 
Sante Fe road, 3d August, 1829, when I defeated eight hundred Indians 
with one hundred and fifty, and killed and wounded forty of them ; and 
again defeated them on the 10th November. Sir, if 1 had received bre- 
vets for all these actions only, i should have been a colonel by brevet, 
September 11, 1834. And now, sir, all I ask is, to be breveted for war 
services, to take effect at either of the dates — September 11, 1814, August 
3, 1829; to be lieutenant colonel by brevet. I had a talk with General 
Jackson in 1831 ; and, if I understood him, he w 7 ou!d have sent my name to 
the Senate if they would have passed the list for brevets which he had 
furnished them ; before he told me he would not send my name to 
them until they had passed what he had sent them; but if they would 
pass them, he would send mine. If you will be so good as to see Gov- 
ernor Miller, he is a strong friend of mine, and can tell you more than 
anybody else on the subject. I am more anxious at this time than 
I was heretofore ; for I wish my son, when he grows up, to see and hear 
that his father has served his country honestly and faithfully, by gaL 



6 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



lantry. My services are well known ; but I wish my name to be on the 
records of my country for gallant services ; and if you will be so kind as 
to use your influence with those other gentlemen, you will lay me under 
everlasting obligations to you ; and my son, as he grows up, and can ap- 
preciate your services to his father, shall be taught to mention your 
name with gratitude, and to consider you one of his best friends. 1 am 
convinced that I am asking a gieat deal ; but I know your kindness, and 
that you will do anything that is in your power for a soldier ; if Mrs. Linn 
is With you, be so good as to make my kindest regards to her. 

If, sir, you should want any information as it respects this country, you 
must let me know ; I should be pleased to hear from you during the ses- 
sion, and after, as often as you feel at leisure to do so ; I should like to 
know what is going on. On the 4th of March last, about twelve o'clock, 
we gave Matty and old Tecumseh twenty-six roarers. Whether you 
succeed for me or not, you will have my eternal gratitude. 

I have the honor to be, with great respect and esteem, your obedient 
servant, 

B. RILEY, 
Major U. S. Army. 

Hon. Lewis F. Linn, 

Senator of the United States. 



St. Louis, August 14, 1837. 

Sir : The exposed situation of a frontier of at least a thousand miles 
in extent has attracted our serious attention to the dangers which con- 
stantly threaten our border citizens, from the proximity of the Indians, 
and the facility with which they can strike any moment they please. 

We are desirous of collecting, from such sources as can throw light 
upon the subject, all the information that may lead to a full and complete 
knowledge of its exposed condition, for the purpose of inducing the Gen- 
eral Government to give it that protection which maybe absolutely neces- 
sary to its safety. Your long services in the army, which, to a great 
extent, have been connected with Indians and Indian affairs, your ac- 
quaintance with their manners and habits, and your knowledge of their 
character, must be of a description calculated to give correct information 
upon a subject which has been greatly embarrassed, for. the want of a 
proper understanding of it. We would, therefore, very respectfully re- 
quest the favor of you to give us your views of the force that you think is 
actually necessary for the complete protection of the frontier, accompanied 
with such remarks relative to a cordon of posts, their distance from each 
other, &c, &c, as you may think necessary. 

With sentiments of regard, we are, very respectfully, your obedient 
servants, 

L. F. LINN, 
A.G. HARRISON. 

Maj. Gen. Edmund P. Gaines. 



f Doc. No. 276. ] 



7 



Headquarters, Western Division, 

St. Louis, August 14, 1837. 

Gentlemen : 1 take much pleasure in complying with the request 
contained in your letter of this date, convinced as I am that your views 
of the letter and spirit of the constitution and laws of the United States, 
regarding the protection of. the frontier, are in accordance with those by 
which I have been governed ; that you are in favor of a system of pro- 
tection, the work of which should commence before the work of destruc- 
tion is finished or in progress, and the exterior line of frontier inhabitants 
cut off, as it was in East Florida during the winter of 1835 and '36. 

To obviate a similar catastrophe upon the western frontier, bordered 
as it is with savages, for the most part deeply wounded, and to some 
extent exasperated at what they deem to be our hostility and injustice, 
in urging them to abandon the lands of their ancestors ; savages who 
have profited, as every portion of the human family have profited, by the 
lessons they have taken from us in the school of adversity, and thus pre- 
pared for a spirited attack upon the frontier ; savages sufficiently numer- 
ous, when combined, to lay waste hundreds of miles of our frontier set- 
tlements in a shorter time than the news of their hostility could possibly 
reach the seat of the Federal Government, and even before the State 
Governments of the West could possibly provide the means of defence. 
I am decidedly of the opinion, that in addition to the posts and garrisons 
already placed upon the frontier between the mouth of the Sabine and 
the Missouri rivers, inclusively, there should be held ready for action a 
disposable force of six thousand men ; of which one regiment of dragoons 
and one of infantry should be stationed at Fort Leavenworth ; an equal 
force at some healthy point to be selected on Grand river, near the 
southwest angle of the State of Missouri ; an equal force on the north- 
western waters of Red river, near the mouth of the False Washita ; 
and the residue on the waters of the Sabine. 

The points to be selected for the location of all military posts, and more 
especially for the proposed disposable force, should be guarded by law 
from the ruinous attacks of whiskey-traders, by placing under the entire 
control of the commanding officers a township of public land, of which 
the post should be on the centre section. If it is true that nine-tenths of 
the crimes committed in the army, during the last thirty-seven years, have 
been occasioned either directly or indirectly by the improper use of 
spirituous liquors, (and! am convinced of the truth of this opinion,) then 
what other argument is necessary to show the expediency of affording 
the commandants of posts the means of cutting off all intercourse between 
the traders and soldiers ? And why should the proposed reservation of 
a township of public land, for each frontier post, be objected to? The 
land would receive no injury. On the contrary, it would be greatly 
benefited, inasmuch as it would, with some little attention, become more 
and more valuable every year, by the planting and growth on the prairie 
of black locust and black walnut for building ships and steamboats, and 
by other improvements, among which I may mention corn, pasture, and 
meadow lands, from which our dragoons maybe supplied with forage ; to 
which I may also add orchards and gardens, which will contribute great- 
ly to the health and comfort of the troops. 



8 



[ Doc. No. 27(i. ] 



The proposed frontier posts might be converted into military schools, for 
the instruction of many of the aspiring; youths of the neighboring States, 
unable to obtain admission into the Military Academy at West Point. 

Let good barracks be constructed, and place at each post the requisite 
professors, as at West Point, to be selected from among the graduates of 
that institution, and then receive from each regiment of militia of the 
neighboring counties a few cadets for lour years ; they would often be 
usefully employed in doing garrison duty, as a part of their instruction, 
particularly during a state of war, when the troops are called oft* upon 
active service. Graduates from such schools of the West would prove 
to be in no wise inferior to the graduates from West Point. 

Promising myself the pleasure of addressing you again upon the sub- 
ject of your interesting communication, (being now much occupied with 
other duties,) 

I have the honor to be, with very great respect, your most obedient 
servant, 

EDMUND P. GAINES. 

The Hon. L. F. Linn, and 
The Hon. A. G. Harrison, 

St. Louis, Missouri. 



Fulton, June 3, 1837. 

Sir : The object of this communication is to solicit ftom you such in- 
formation, in relation to the military force necessary for the complete pro- 
tection oi the frontier of Missouri, Arkansas, &c, as you may have it in 
your power to give us. We are flattered, from your location on the fron- 
tier, the length of time ycu have been on one post or the other of it, from 
your knowledge of the number of Indians on our borders, of their char- 
acter for the faithless observance of their promises and treaties, and of 
the present and past meager military force upon our frontier, that you can 
give us much information that will be useful and interesting. It is our 
opinion that the military force usually stationed on the western and south- 
western frontier is very far from being sufficient. Your opportunities 
have been of the most ample kind for observations on this head, and will 
doubtless accompany such conclusions as you have come to with great 
weight and influence. In the important trust which, in part, has been 
placed in our hands, we feel that there is no duty of a higher and more 
sacred character than that of trying every means, and using every exer- 
tion which our situation can possibly put within our reach, to have extend- 
ed to our exposed and neglected frontier the protection which shall place 
its security, for the future, beyond the possibility of doubt or solicitude. 
Such as we have, has been sparingly given ; such as we want, will be with- 
held, we fear, without proof as clear as positive demonstration. Millions 
have been expended for the protection of commerce ; our navy has been in- 
creased avowedly for this purpose. This is right. We have ourselves 
lent a feeble assistance to this great object. It is but the fulfilling of one 
of the great purposes of Government. But when protection is sought for 
by the people of the West, those whose boldness and daring, whose toils 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



9 



and sufferings, whose labor and improvements, have opened the forests 
and made valuable the lands of the Government, those, in truth, who have 
been invited to our utmost western limits by the Government itself, in 
offering its lands for sale there, how cold and indifferent the conduct of 
the Government ! How reluctant to move upon the subject ! Can it be 
possible that such circumstances are not sufficient to entitle any civilized 
people on earth to the protection of their Government ? And it' such be 
sufficient to attract the favorable notice of the Government, how much 
more are they entitled to the fullest protection, whose misfortune it is to 
have settled where it is the policy of the Government to place thousands 
of the most restless and implacable enemies the white man ever had ? 
Such, exactly, is the condition of the settler upon the western frontier. He 
is innocentof the causes that have led to this necessity. If there are grounds 
for it, the Government itself is guilty. Such are our views. To impress 
them favorably upon those who have the power to give us the necessary 
aid, is the object of the information we seek. We hope, therefore, that 
you will do us the favor to give us at length the opinions which you have, 
as to the force that is necessary to ensure complete protection to the west- 
ern frontier. 

We have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servants, 

L. F. LINN, 
A. G. HARRISON. 

Col. Stephen W. Kearney. 



Fort Leavenworth, June 20, 1837. 

Gentlemen: Your communication of the 6th instant, asking my opin- 
ion of " the military force necessary for the complete protection of the 
frontier of Missouri, Arkansas," &c.,has been received ; and, forming as 
you do a part of the representation in Congress of the State and people 
of Missouri, (so deeply interested in the subject,) I feel bound to give 
you my views, to be used as you may deem proper or expedient. 

The preliminary measures to protecting the frontier are to have the 
limits of the frontier definitely settled. This is not the case with the 
country between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers; and I think that, 
as early as possible, the northern boundary of the State of Missouri should 
be marked out, and that the commissioners for laying out the " military 
road," as directed by an act of Congress of the 2d July last, should be 
informed if the Territory of Wisconsin, ( west of the Mississippi, ) subject 
to be settled by the whites, is to continue as its present boundary ; or, if 
to be extended by further purchase of land from the Indians, where the 
permanent boundary will probably be. The above boundaries being 
determined upon and finally fixed, (the remainder of the frontier, viz: 
that between the .Missouri and Red rivers, is already so,) the "military 
road," as above alluded to, should be laid out in the Indian country, 
along, and within a short distance of, the line separating it from the Ter- 
ritory of Wisconsin and the States of Missouri and Arkansas. Upon this 
road should be erected strong and permanent military works, garrisoned 
by infantry or artillery, and should be such as at a glance would convince 
the Indians of the folly of attacking them, and of the danger they would 



10 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



incur by passing to the rear of them. Besides the stores necessary for 
their own garrisons, those works should hold in depot rations and forage 
for the dragoons and their horses, when visited by them on their march 
along this road. These I would station on the flanks and in the centre ; 
and, when the season permitted, a portion of them should be constantly 
moving on the road. 

The strength of the force necessary to be stationed .at the u works, " 
as above recommended, though a matter of great importance and consid- 
eration, it is obvious that even military men may differ about. I would 
therefore suggest that there should be one regiment of infantry or artil- 
lery, and one of dragoons, to garrison the works and guard the frontier 
between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers; one regiment of infantry 
or artillery, and one of dragoons, between the Missouri and Osage ; and 
two regiments of infantry or artillery, and one of dragoons, between the 
Osage and Red rivers ; thus giving, for a frontier of about one thousand 
miles, four regiments of infantry or artillery, and three of dragoons. As 
the military road is, by law, to stop at Red river, and, as I suppose, you 
do not ask my opinion of the country south of it, I shall say nothing about it. 

I am aware that the above estimate of force to guard the frontier will 
to some persons appear too large, and to others too small ; but when we 
reflect that the question is not what force has hitherto been stationed 
along the frontier, but what force is necessary there ; not how much longer 
will the mercy of the Indians permit our weak garrisons to continue to 
exist near them, but how strong should they be to command the re- 
spect and have a control upon the actions ol the Indians ; when we take 
into consideration the distance of about one thousand miles, contiguous 
to which the policy of the Government has settled a very large and rest- 
less body of Indians, their well-known treacherous and unfriendly feel- 
ings for the white men, it will be conceded, as I think, by most persons, 
upon reflection, that the foregoing estimate is at least within the neces- 
sary bounds. 

It is well known that the cause of most of the difficulties we have had 
with the Indians may be traced to the lawless acts of some w 7 hite men 
amongst them ; and that, in consequence of the distance to the civil courts, 
and the impossibility of getting witnesses before them, such acts very 
often go unpunished, and therefore stimulate others to the commission of 
new ones. I am therefore most decidedly of the opinion, that if Congress 
would by law authorize that offences against the act of June 30, 1834, 
entitled "An act to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian 
tribes, and to preserve peace on the frontier," may be tried by military 
courts, should the offender be apprehended in the Indian country, such 
authority would do more to preserve peace on the frontier than many ad- 
ditional regiments. 

I have the honor to remain, 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

S. W. KEARNEY, 
Colonel 1st regiment dragoons. 

To the Hon. L. F. Linn, and 
A. G. Harrison, 

Fulton , Missouri. 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



11 



Fulton, June 3, 1837. 

Gentlemen : We have taken the liberty of addressing you, for the pur- 
pose of getting such information as you may be able to give, in relation 
to the military force that is necessary for the protection of our western 
and southwestern frontier. The long residence of some of you among the 
Indians, and the knowledge which you all, as Indian agents, doubtless 
possess of their numbers, their character, and habits, have enabled you to 
form conclusions on this subject, which but very few have had the op- 
portunity of doing. Besides, you are well acquainted with the extent of 
our frontier, and its defenceless condition. As we are collecting infor- 
mation on this subject, with the view of a future operation in Congress, 
we respectfully request a communication from each of you, giving your 
views as to the military force that is necessary for the permanent peace 
and security of the whole ilne of our frontier. 

Should there be other Indian agents living within reach of you, whose 
names we have not here included, you will please forward them a copy 
of this, for their reply. 

We have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servants, 

L. F. LINN, 
A. G. HARRISON. 

Messrs. A. S. Hughes, 

/ Jno. F. Dougherty, 
Joshua Pilcher, 
M. Cummins, 
' W. N. Fulkerson. 



Independence, Missouri, 

November 25, 1837. 
Dear Sir : I have just returned from a fifteen days' campaign, which 
was for the purpose of removing a considerable number of Osage Indians 
without the limits of the State. A number of the citizens on our southern 
frontier, say in the neighborhood of Old Harmony Mission, petitioned the 
Governor of our State for relief. The Governor cited them to the major 
general, Samuel D. Lucas, of this place, and, at the same time, instruct- 
ed the general to hold a certain amount of his command in readiness at 
the call of said citizens ; which call w 7 as made on the major general, who 
ordered into service two brigades, one of which I had the honor to com- 
mand. The major general, S. D. Lucas, for the purpose of having good 
order and subordination, as well as to try to remove said Indians without 
bloodshed, took the command in person, and, with a great deal of cau- 
tion, has at the present effected the object aforesaid ; though, without 
some immediate and prompt measures, our whole Western Missouri will 
be overwhelmed in a general war with the different tribes of Indians. 
The Osage Indians have been for some time committing outrage after 
outrage on the stock of our frontier citizens, which, I discovered whilst 
out there, caused a fixed determination in our citizens to stand it no 
longer ; and, of course, war must ensue. I consider one great evil exists 
out there : there are many Indians, French, &c, living near the line, 
who are in the habit of keeping spirituous liquors. A great portion of 



12 



[ Doc. No. 270. ] 



them have full-blooded Osage Indian squaws, as pretended wives. A 
Mr. Jarreu, a trader for the American Fur Company, who lives some 
fifteen or twenty miles from the line, has an Osage squaw for a wife, 
though not married to her, and lives sixty or seventy miles from any 
place of civil or military law. He has divers French around him, who 
sell liquor to the Indians; they come in and remain six or eight days ; 
then they are starved almost to death, and, of course, must fall on the 
first cow or hog they may meet with ; and while out there General Lucas 
ordered said squaws to be put without the limits of the State, as other 
Osage Indians, though Captain Mitchell, while on his way with them to 
camp, fell in with a command of dragoons, under the command of Cap- 
tain Sumner, who, with force of arms, took said squaws and ordered 
them back to Mr. Jarreu's. The next day, after General Lucas, with 
his command, had put over the line some three hundred Indians, and on 
the march back met with Captain Sumner and his command, who in- 
formed General Lucas he would use his endeavors to keep said Indians 
without the State ; also informed General Lucas he had left a guard at 
Mr. Jarreu's, with said squaws, &c; that said guard and prisoners were 
subject to his order. General Lucas proceeded on to the Harmony mis- 
sion-house, near said Jarreu's, and despatched Colonel Thomas Pitcher, 
with a small command, to receive said prisoners ; but when arriving there, 
it seemed Captain Sumner, though a dragoon officer of the United 
States, had given the guard particular instruction not to let General 
Lucas nor any other persons have said prisoners ; which was directly in 
contradiction to what he had told the general. He, the said general, 
being on his march for home, and this same twenty-five or thirty from 
Captain Sumner, and wishing to put the Government to as little expense 
as possible, concluded to disband his troops, and leave the matter for the 
Government and Captain Sumner to arrange. I am authorized, from 
good authority, to say to you that Captain Sumner yet has a guard to 
keep any person from driving said squaws without the limits of the State. 
Such conduct as this, you are well apprized, the citizens of Missouri will 
not suffer. It seems as though ii has been the policy of the Government 
to place on our immediate frontier almost all the different tribes of In- 
dians. Be it so. No objection ; but we claim from that Government 
that protection which the laws of our land guaranty to us, free and inde- 
pendent citizens. The commanding officer at Fort Leavenworth was 
informed, by one of the commissioners of Indian affairs, that difficulty was 
likely to arrive, and requested to send an officer to see General Lucas, 
or at least to inquire what was likely to be the result. He sent down 
Lieutenant Chilton, who got all the information which General Lucas 
had in his possession, which was a petition from the citizens of Bates 
county, praying for relief, as well as an order from the commander-in- 
chief to hold his command in readiness. Why did not the commanding 
officer at Fort Leavenworth immediately despatch a portion of his com- 
mand, and have the matter adjusted, instead of having the militia dragged 
from their homes, to relieve the property of their fellow-citizens from the 
tomahawk of the savage Osages, who are threatening the lives of the citi- 
zens of Bates county, if they molested them when they came in to 
kill their stock? And I have no doubt but, if General Lucas had went 
out with a few men, he would have had them fellows to have flogged 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



13 



severely before they would have surrendered ; as I discovered at all times, 
-when coming across a party of them, they evinced considerable hostility. 
Some of them even went so far as to cock their guns, for war. The 
citizens of Bates county complain, and say the dragoon officers do 
not care anything about their interests, merely march out for fine show, 
and to cut some fine military swells, and return, and leave them and the 
Indians to fight it out. 

I am bound to think, without some immediate remedy, our country will 
be mulct in a general war with the Indians on our West, as you well 
know when one Indian begins all are on a move. And it seems to me 
it would be a very wrong time to have to spend several millions of dol- 
lars at this critical moment of money matters, when it could otherwise be 
done. 

I have the honor to be yours, &c. 

Mi G. WILSON. 

A. G. Harrison, Esq. 



Fort Coffee, west of Arkansas, 

September 10, 1837. 

Sir : As I have been for a number of years travelling along the whole 
extent of our frontier, and have visited most of the different tribes of In- 
dians, from our settlement as far west as the Rocky Mountains, I have been 
requested, by a number of individuals, to give my views in regard to the 
protection of the frontier, and the policy which should govern our rela- 
tions with the various Indian tribes upon our border. And as there is 
no person who has taken a greater interest in frontier matters than your- 
self, I have taken the liberty of addressing this letter to you. If it con- 
tains any suggestions that may be of service, it will be a source of great 
gratification to me that I have afforded some information upon a subject 
of such great importance to the western people. The plan of opening a 
military road along the whole extent of the frontier, and establishing a 
cordon of posts, which was introduced into the Senate by yourself, is an 
excellent one, and meets with the approbation of the frontier people 
generally ; not much, however, has yet been done towards carrying it into 
effect. The dragoons should be constantly kept patrolling along this 
road, to enforce the non-intercourse law, and prevent the introduction 
of spirituous liquors into the Indian country. There is but little doubt 
tUat most of our Indian wars have been occasioned by outlawed white 
people, who have fled to the frontiers, located themselves among the 
Indians, and married Indian wives. They introduce whiskey into the 
Indian country, and sell it to the Indians at an enormous price. The 
Indians get drunk, commence quarrelling, and, in this state of excite- 
ment, commit acts of depredation, which, in many cases, lead to war. 

In addition to the present force, I think there should be a regiment of 
riflemen raised, to be mounted in case of an Indian war. They should 
be armed with good rifles. This has been proved to be the most effec- 
tual weapon against Indians. The officers of the regiment should be 
hardy and enterprising men, possessing a knowledge of the frontier 
country, and acquainted with Indian character. Officers of infantry, 



14 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



who have been stationed a long time on the frontier, should have the 
senior appointments. The whole of these troops should be place a under 
the command of a general of experience, who should have his headquar- 
ters on the military road, as nearly central as possible. Detach :ient3 of 
troops should be sent out into the Indian country every summer. In t'lis 
way the officers would acquire a knowledge of the topograp! y of the 
country, and become acquainted with Indian character, both of which 
would be essentially requisite to combat them successfully. A few pres- 
ents should be taken along, to conciliate the wild Indians, and to let them 
know that we are friendly disposed towards them. These detachments 
should have directions to arrest all persons in the Indian coun ry trading 
without a license, and all those who abuse their licenses by creating uni 
abusing the Indians; much disturbance would, by this mea is, pre- 
vented. With regard to the government of the Indians, 1 nk there 
should be either a governor and secretary, or a general superi Hendent, 
of all the Indians on the frontier west of the military road, f sf Id 
be located on this road, as nearly central as possible, so t; a' co Id 
communicate in a short time, by means of expresses on the road, wi h 
every portion of the frontier. The superintendences and i cting supers 
intendencies now established in that portion of the count,; hould be 
abolished, and all our frontier relations intrusted to this general superin- 
tendent or governor, w r ho should make an annual report of the condition 
of the Indians in his superintendency. This method w\ uid ensiue a 
uniformity of action and views with regard to our Indian nel i n-hich 
cannot be obtained so long as there are so many little actir ten- 
dencies, the appointments to which are filled with men of su a ious and 
conflicting views. This governor, having the general supe :!ence 
of all Indian matters on the frontier, would be able to set' the Ittie 
jarring interests of the different tribes, and reconcile their aiiii^osities, 
and thus prevent much bloodshed among them. This c ntiot be done 
by a commissioner so remote as Washington, who cannot be supposed to 
possess much knowledge of Indian character, or the various causes of 
these difficulties. Having one common governor, to who refer all 
their difficulties, and who w r ould establish the same rules ana : egulations 
over all, it would tend to produce a unformity of views, :hey would 
be induced to co-operate in measures to their mutual . heritage, and 
w 7 hich would tend to a gradual amelioration of their conditi* n. Ever/ 
two years there should be a general council or congress, to consist of a 
delegation of all the different tribes of Indians, to assemble r cen- 
tral point in the Indian country ; they could then and there < ■ nicate 
their various wants to the Government, through the supe i 
governor ; while he, at that time, could communicate the v f th?: 

Government with regard to them. The wild Indian of the I ana 
extreme West could here meet his more civilized brethren of South, 
and, seeing the beneficent effects of civilization in the impi edi- 
tion of these Indians, he might be induced to follow theit c le, and 
cultivate the arts of civilization himself. They could he their 
feasts and dances together, settle their little animosities with each other, 
and part with mutual good will. The Indians, like all othe* p le, are 
fond of excitement ; they have ambitious men among them, wh de- 
sirous of distinction ; and as they have but little opportu s 6 3 



[ Doc. No. 276. J 



15 



esmen and orators, their ambition leads them to excel in warlike ex- 
ioits, which, no doubt, is the cause of many of the wars among them- 
es and with the whites. This grand council will be considered a 
event in the lives of the Indians, and their principal warriors will 
very desirous of being sent as delegates to it, which will lead their 
nds from warlike exploits, and direct their ambition to other roads of 
of inction. When this is acquired, one great step is taken towards their 
- iicement in civilization, and the amelioration of their condition. In 
time, if such should be the policy of the Government, they might, 
general council, elect delegates to Congress, which wouid open 
ield of ambition for them. Many other advantages will arise from 
k, which will at once occur to you ; and I will not, therefore, 
you with an enumeration of them. The establishment of schools 
the Indians is a subject of great importance in effecting their 
tion, and it has been too much neglected. There ought to 
►d schools, and a large number of them, established among all 
ent Indian tribes. The only way of working a permanent and 
ual civilization among them is to educate them when young. The 
od effect of schools has been experienced with the Cherokees and 
loct "S, among whom there are many intelligent men. 
I have not entered much into the detail of this plan, and it may require 
and alterations; such as it is, however, and with the faint hope 
be i g of some service to the public, I have submitted it to your pe- 
1 sal. 

I have the honor to be, &c. 

G. P. KINGSBURY. 

Ho i Lewis F. Linn, 

Washington. 



Fort Leavenworth, 

June 27, 1837. 

Gentlemen: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
I >mm .nication, dated Fulton, 3d June, 1837, addressed to General A. 
Hughes and myself. 

Ycu wish to know my opinion as to the military force necessary for 
protection of our western and southwestern frontier. This is a 
J subject in which I feel interested, and have for several years back; and 
1 am rejoiced to see that you, gentlemen, are about to lay your strong 
congressional hands, without gloves, on this all-important matter. I will 
I therefore proceed, without delay, to give you some of my views relating 
i, f«» it. 

I am of the opinion that six thousand troops are necessary to give the 
d protection you allude to. The State of Missouri is, as you well know, 
ir one of the frontier States; two sides of it are unprotected, except by a 
r, i j small force at Fort Leavenworth. The Government are still sending 
e out tribes of red-skins, and locating them on her frontier border; this is 
I well enough, provided the Government will give the necessary protec- 
13 tion. The tribes who emigrate to this country do so contrary to their 
own free will, and are, at heart, the bitter enemies of the white man. 



16 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



It is the intention of the Government to make and keep peace be- 
tween the tribes and these wild original inhabitants of the country ; this 
is correct, also ; indeed, humanity demands it, because ihey would, if 
permitted to carry on war among themselves, not only cut to pieces and 
destroy each other, but the property of our own citizens would be en- 
dangered likewise. It should be well remembered, however, by the 
great and wise men of our nation, that so soon as peace and good will is 
established between what I call the tame and the wild Indians, they 
will form combinations together, and fall on our helpless frontier people, 
knife and tomahawk in hand ; and, when once the fray commences, there 
is no knowing when or where it may end. 

On the north of our State, and between the Missouri and Mississippi 
rivers, we have 5,000 or 6,000 Sacs and Foxes, about 20,000 Sioux, and 
some 1,400 or 1,500 loways, and it is strongly spoken of that we are to 
have some 6,000or 7,000 Pottawatamies and Winnebagoeslocated alongthe 
same line ; then, on the west, we have near 3,000 tame Kickapoos, Dela- 
wares, Shawnees, and other small bands ; and we have about 1 ,500 Kanzas, 
1,600 or 2,000 Otoes, 2,000 Omahas, 500 Piankeshaws, 2,000 Shaw- 
nees, 2,000 Sioux, 11,000 or 12,000 Pawnees of the Platte, 1,800 Kiawas, 
3,000 Arrapahoes, 5,000 Osages, and then some 10,000 Pawnees, Picks, 
and Camanches, who roam from west of Missouri to south of Arkansas ; 
and, besides all these tribes, we have on the Missouri river and back, 
running along the Rocky Mountains, some 15,000 Blackfeet, 3,000 (Jrows, 
and about 2,500 Mandans and Gros Ventres, (or Minatories,) 2,500 Ar- 
rickaraws, and 10,000 Snakes of the Rocky Mountains. Then, further 
south, along the State of Arkansas, we have Creeks, Cherokees, Choc- 
taws, Seminoles, &c, by the thousand ; S am unable to say how many ; 
we will suppose 20,000. Remember that all these tribes inhabit the 
country between the west side of the Mississippi and Red river ; they 
are bounded on the w T est by the Rocky mountains, and on the east by 
the States of Missouri and Arkansas. The Missouri river runs through 
this tract of country, dividing it into two nearly equal parts, from east to 
west, and four-filths of all the Indians above enumerated reside on the 
Missouri and its waters. The only military force, from the mouth to 
the head of this mighty river, swarming on both sides by thousands, yes, 
tens of thousands, of blood-thirsty savages, has, for the last four years, not 
exceeded four companies ! Yes, 200 men to protect a line of frontier 
people, extended from Prairie du Chien to Fort Gibson, a distance of 
about 700 miles, against all these blood-thirsty red-skins ; and they, too, 
goaded on one side by our whiskey-merchants and fur-traders, and on 
the other by our trappers in the mountains. Can any man, who has been 
a witness to the mischief done by old Black Hawk, and 4 or 500 of his 
followers, in the course of one season, surrounded as he was, too, on all 
sides, by whites and unfriendly Sioux, doubt, for a moment, that our exten- 
sive and unprotected western frontier is in imminent danger, daily and 
hourly, of being attacked by some or all of these wild, revengeful, active, 
and daring bloodhounds ? 

We ought to have four companies of infantry and two of dragoons 
stationed at Prairie du Chien or St. Peter's ; the same number on the 
Des Moines river, above the Missouri State line ; an equal number on the 
Missouri river, near the mouth of Big Platte ; the same at Fort Leaven- 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



17 



worth, and on the waters of the Osage, somewhere above Harmony 
Mission ; also, on the Neosho, above the State line, in the Osage coun- 
try ; and a like number at Forts Gibson, Smith, Jesup, and Towson. 
These troops, strung along in this way, would give perfect security to 
the frontier, from the lakes in the North to Red river in the South. At 
each of the locations mentioned, it would require a well-made, compact 
garrison, to be held by the infantry, while the dragoons should be kept 
constantly travelling from post to post, on a good road made for the pur- 
pose, with the necessary ferries and bridges. There should be a regular 
mail running on this road, going and coming from post to post, bringing 
news from the Spanish dominions in the South, and from the British in 
the North. The dragoons travelling on this road every day, with strict 
orders to prevent all whiskey-smugglers from going into the Indian 
country, and all Indians from coming into the white settlements, would 
have the effect of putting a stop to a traffic which is the origin of all 
evil and difficulty between the white and red men. 

There should be one superintendent of Indian affairs located on this 
road, at some central point; there should be one Indian agent stationed 
within a few miles of each of these military posts. The superintendent 
and agents should have the sole control of the Indians ; and, in order to 
prevent the demoralizing effect that military garrisons generally have on 
Indians, they should not be allowed to hold any intercourse whatever 
with the troops, except, when it becomes necessary for the troops to 
chastise them. The moment you permit soldiers and Indians to mingle 
together, that moment the latter lose all fear and respect for the former. 
Indians should never be permitted to enter a military station, except the 
chiefs, and then only when business of importance required it. The United 
States troops should be held up before the Indian tribes, by the Govern- 
ment, as the rod of correction ; the Indians should be made to understand 
that agents are sent among them to advise them, and make the views of 
the Government known to them, and to offer peace and protection on 
certain conditions ; and that, when those conditions are wilfully violated 
on their part, the troops will be let loose upon them. 

Give superintendents and agents good salaries, repose confidence in 
them, clothe them with considerable discretionary powers, and then you 
will find men of honor and capacity seeking these offices ; and when you 
are disappointed in your man, appoint another in his stead, and so on un- 
til you have all good ones. One agent in the vicinity of each frontier 
military post would be sufficient to transact all our affairs with the In- 
dians. All offences or violations of law, of whatever kind, committed 
in the Indian country, should be tried by a military court, and promptly 
punished. 

The expediency of organizing an Indian Territory at this time, with a 
view to bring the wild Indians under legal restrictions, is, in my opinion, 
very doubtful ; before this can be done, they must be taught to work, 
read, and write, and be weaned from the chase. To effect this great 
change, you must locate among them a number of good, honest, and in- 
dustrious teachers, farmers, and mechanics, all of good moral character, 
and placed under the exclusive direction of the agent, so long as he con- 
ducts the affairs of his agency properly. At the same time this is going 
on, the Government should hold out inducements calculated to urge 



18 



r Doc. No. 276. J 



the Indians on to labor ; there should be a store or stock of the best 
kind of Indian goods kept at each agency, to be given out, at cost and 
carriage, to the Indians, individually, or to heads of families, in payment 
of annuities due them from the United States. They should be made to 
understand that they would find sale for every bushel of corn, pound of 
beef or pork, they might have to sell to the Government for supplying 
the troops at these several military posts. Before the Government can 
exercise the necessary control over Indian tribes, some plan must be 
adopted calculated to lessen the powerful influence that large trading 
companies have over the Indians. These large trading companies break 
down all opposition in trade, get whatever price they may choose to im- 
pose upon their goods, and, of course, oppose any measure of the Gov- 
ernment relating to Indians, because every step taken to settle the In- 
dians down, and civilize them, is in direct opposition to the interest of 
the trader ; therefore, I say something must be done to weaken the con- 
trol the traders have over the minds of the ignorant Indians, before any- 
thing can be done towards bettering their condition. You ask, what 
ought to be done to effect this great object? I will tell you. Let 
the General Government take these ignorant savages into its own hands ? 
and furnish them with every article of trade, at cost and charges; this, of 
course, would drive the traders from among the Indians in a short time, 
and leave the Government alone to control them as so many children, 
Thus, with a line of forts, garrisoned by infantry, along the frontier set- 
tlements, from North to South, with two companies of dragoons at each, 
with their horses in good order, ready to pursue and chastise, or bring to 
justice, all violators of law, be they white, red, or black, with a good 
road, and a mail running from post to post, bringing all Indian news from 
the North and South to the superintendent, and to the military offieer 
placed in command of the whole line of posts, the frontier would be 
rendered secure. Both superintendent and commanding officer should 
be located at or near Fort Leavenworth. The Indians supplied with 
teachers, farmers, and mechanics, of every necessary kind, and furnished 
with all kinds of necessary articles of merchandise, at cost and carriage, 
the influence of the fur-traders done away with, and ardent spirits kept 
away, I have no hesitation in believing that everything would glide 
along smoothly and peaceably between us and the red-skins ; and that, in 
a few years, many of the Indian tribes would become sufficiently civil- 
ized to make a beginning at self-government, under some simple code of 
laws, and in course of time become capable of furnishing a representative 
in the United States councils ; but, until something of this kind is done, 
I venture to predict that all the money, time, and labor, which the Gov- 
ernment may bestow on these miserable tribes, for the next fifty years to 
come, will prove unavailing. 

The Government has gone on and crowded these tribes upon our bor- 
ders, without consulting us ; therefore, we are entitled to protection. We 
should be enabled to He down at night in our humble huts, on the most 
extreme frontier, with our wives and white-headed children, in perfect 
security. 

You have now, gentlemen, the views of one who has been on the fron- 
tier for the last twenty nine years, acting in various capacities among 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



19 



many different tribes of Indians. Should you deem the rough suggestions 
here thrown out of any consequence, I shall be much gratified, and give 
you the liberty to use them as to you may seem best. 
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

JNO. DOUGHERTY, 

Indian Agent. 

To the Hon. L. F. Linn, 

A. G. Harrison., 



Headquarters 1st Department, 

Western Division of the Army, Jefferson Barracks, Aug. 22, 1837. 

Gentlemen : I have had the honor of receiving your joint letter of 
the 14th instant, asking my opinion of the force necessary for the com- 
plete protection of our northern and southwestern frontier. Being long 
familiar with the extent of cur frontier and the number and character of 
the border Indians, I can feel no hesitation in answering your inquiries, 
with a strong confidence in my judgment on the subject. In speaking 
of the northwestern and southern frontier, i embrace a line from the upper 
lakes to the Mississippi, including Green Bay, Forts Winnebago, Craw- 
ford, and Sneliing, at the Falls of St. Anthony, and from the latter post, 
southwest, to a point on the Missouri river, where the State line will in- 
tersect it ; thence down on the southwest side of the river, to Fort Leav- 
enworth ; thence south to Fort Gibson on the Arkansas river, Fort Tow- 
son on Red river, and on the same line to Sabine river, and down that 
stream to its mouth. Upon this line, northeast of the Mississippi, reside 
the Menomonies, Winnebagoes, Chippewas, and some small tribes from 
the State of New York. The Menomonies number about four hundred 
warriors, the Winnebagoes six hundred, and Chippewas two thousand ; all 
restless and warlike tribes, and generally well armed with the rifle and 
northwest smooth-bored gun. The part of the Sioux on our border re- 
side on the Mississippi and St. Peter's rivers, and in the plains bordering 
our northwestern line. They may be estimated at seven hundred to eight 
hundred warriors, broken into many small bands ; they are warlike, and 
armed generally with guns. The Sacs and Foxes reside on the Iowa and 
Des Moines rivers, midway between the Mississippi and Missouri ; they 
number one thousand two hundred warriors, well armed with rifles, mostly ; 
they are proud, imperious, and brave. The Pottawatamies of Chicago re- 
side now on the Missouri river, 30 or 40 miles above the State line ; they 
have fifteen hundred warriors ; they are warlike, and are armed with guns. 
The Omahas reside some fifty miles from Council Bluff, on the northwest 
side of the Missouri river ; they have five hundred warriors, armed partly 
with guns and partly with bows and arrows ; they were once brave and 
warlike, but are supposed to have lost some of their high character in 
deeds of arms. The Pawnees of the Platte reside on that river, some 
seventy miles above its mouth ; they are accounted two thousand warriors, 
armed with guns and bows and arrows, and are brave and warlike. The 
Otoes and Missourias, now one band, reside on the Platte, four miles from 
its mouth ; they are generally well armed with guns 3 and are very brave 



20 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



and warlike ; they are estimated at two hundred warriors. The Sacs 
and lowas of the Missouri reside at the mouth of Wolf river, on the 
southwestern bank of Missouri river, and seventy miles above Fort 
Leavenworth ; they number three hundred warriors, well armed ; next 
below are the Kickapoos, five miles above Fort Leavenworth, who 
have two hundred warriors. The Shawnees and Delawares reside 
on the Kanzas river, near its mouth ; they number six hundred brave 
warriors, well armed. The Kanzas Indians reside some seventy miles 
up the Kanzas river ; they have four hundred warriors, armed part- 
ly with guns and partly with bows and arrows. On the Osage and 
Neosho rivers are the Pottawatamies of Indiana, Senecas, Weas, Pian- 
keshaws, Peorias, and Kaskaskias and Ottawas, estimated in the whole to 
have three hundred warriors. The Osages on the Neosho and Verdigris 
rivers have eleven hundred warriors, armed with guns and bows and ar- 
rows. The Cherokees who have emigrated, and reside below Fort Gib 
son, are estimated at fifteen hundred warriors. The Creeks who have 
emigrated, and reside on the Verdigris and on the Canadian fork of Ar- 
kansas, may be estimated at eight thousand warriors. The Choctaws 
on the Canadian fork and on Red river have three thousand five hundred 
warriors. The Quapaws have one hundred and fifty warriors ; they re- 
side on the Neosho. The Caddoes reside upon the Texas frontier, be- 
low Fort Towson, and are numbered at three hundred warriors. 

Remote from our border are the Sioux of the Upper Missouri, estimated 
variously at from four thousand to six thousand warriors. The Rickarees 
have joined the Mandans and Gros Ventres at their villages ; the whole 
number not more than eight hundred warriors. The Chyans, on Chyan 
river, have 600 warriors. The Crows, on the Big Horn of the Yellow- 
stone, count eight hundred warriors. The Assinaboines are estimated at 
three thousand five hundred warriors, residing north of the Missouri 
river, towards Hudson's bay. The Arrapohoes reside on the head-waters 
of the Arkansas river. The Camanches roam from the Rocky Moun- 
tains down upon Red river ; they are a numerous and warlike tribe. The 
Pawnee Picks reside among the mountains up Red river. All these 
tribes live too remote to come down upon our border settlements. I have 
not spoken of the Blackfeet and other mountain tribes ; being little 
known, and too distant to excite any apprehension. 

I should estimate the Indians on our border, who are situated to depre- 
date upon and annoy our frontier inhabitants, along the northwestern line, 
from the Kanzas river to the lakes, at ten thousand seven hundred war- 
riors, and south of the Kanzas to the Sabine river, at fourteen thousand 
six hundred and fifty warriors, besides the Chickasaws, Cherokees, and 
Creeks, who have not yet emigrated from Tennessee, Georgia, and Ala- 
bama. 

For the protection of the lake country, including Green Bay and Fort 
Winnebago, 1 should assign one infantry regiment of one thousand men. 
One regiment of infantry of one thousand men, and two troops of dra- 
goons, for the posts on the Upper Mississippi, and one regiment of infantry 
oi one thousand men, and eight troops of dragoons, for the posts on the 
Missouri river, and an intermediate post on the Osage or Neosho river. 

For the protection of the Arkansas and Red river frontier, I would as- 
sign one infar^rv^regin^nt^f^ne thousand men 9 and sis troops of dra- 



[ Doc. No. 276. ] 



21 



goons for the posts on the Arkansas river; one infantry regiment of one 
thousand men, and four troops of dragoons, for the posts on Red river ; and 
one regiment of infantry of one thousand men for the posts on Sabine 
river, from Gaines's ferry to its mouth. 

The estimate for the posts on the Arkansas river is rather small, con- 
sidering the vast accumulation of Indians in that quarter. The whole 
estimate for the posts, from the lakes to the mouth of Sabine river, may, 
however, be considered large ; but it should be remembered that the regi- 
ments of infantry will hardly ever be kept up to eight hundred men, from 
the circumstance of discharges, desertion, &c. 

Things, since the removal of the Pottawatamies to their own lands, 
appear tranquil on the frontier. There is, however, a war wampum 
afloat among the border tribes, and in its circulation since last fall has 
grown to an enormous size. I speak from undoubted information ; but 
whether the combination is for operations against the whites, or the Sioux, 
is not ascertained ; some friendly chiefs have communicated a belief that 
it is against the whites. Under all circumstances, too much attention 
cannot be paid to the defence of the frontier. 

With very great respect, gentlemen, I have the honor to be your most 
obedient servant, 

H. ATKINSON, 
Brigadier General U. S. Army, 

To the Hon. L. F. Linn, 

United States Senate, and 
The Hon. A. G. Harrison, 

Member of the House of Representatives, 

Washington city , 






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